Suction cleaner



May 28, 1935. F. RIEBEL, JR 2,002,509

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb. 2v, 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gjwwantoc B /o. 4 0 I QMWQM dam,

May 28, 1935.

F. RIEBEL, JR

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb. 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m rlllllll,

gmAzxick g x Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER Frederick Biebel, Jr., Toledo, Ohio,

Appliance Air Way Electric assignor to V Corporation,

Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application February 27, 1933, Serial No. 658,684

15 Claim.

This invention relates to suction cleaners of the type wherein the nozzle or floor tool is resiliently mounted on rollers disposed at its ends, and has for its object to provide means whereby 5 the floor tool may be adjusted for height to any of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the floor tool and the tension of the resilient portions of the mountings when flexed under said weight,

10 below any one of which positions the floor tool may be depressed under manual pressure. More specifically, it is my object to provide a resiliently mounted floor tool wherein adjustment of the lifting tension of the resilient mounting which connects a supporting rollers to the floor tool is accomplished by an adjusting element carried solely by the mounting.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. .1 is a perspective view of acleaner embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through one end of the floor tool thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the roller and its mountmg.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. r

Fig. 5 is-a sectional view, similar to Fig. 2, of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the roller and its mounting, of Fig. 5. l

- Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig.2, of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view or the adjuster element 01 Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the Fig. 10 is a view similar to modification of theinvention.

Fig. 11'. is a plan view of the same. t

Fig. 12 is a'view similar to Fig. 2, of another .modiflcation of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of a tion of the invention. I

Fig. 14 is a similar view of tion of the invention.

same. 4 Fig. 2, of a further a further modifica- The floor tool 30 is supported by a pair of rollers 3| one at each end of the tool. The rollers 3| are attached to mountings 32 which in turn are attached to the floor tool. Each mounting 32 includes a resilient portion which serves to carry the weight of the cleaner to the roller, and which allows the tool to be depressed below a normal 55 riding position determinedby the balance befurther modiflcatween the weight of the cleaner 33 and the tension in the resilient portion of the mounting.

In the form shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, the mounting is in the form of a relatively non-resilient bracket 34 and a leaf spring 35 secured to the bracket at the end thereof opposite the roller 3 I, the spring diverging from the bracket so that its free end is spaced therefrom a substantial distance, sufiicient to provide room for relative movement of the bracket toward the spring to provide for the aforesaid manual depression.

The floor tool 30 has endsockets 36 which are wedge-shaped to receive the V shaped'mountings. The free ends of the bracket 34 and spring 35 project out of the socket. A screw 31 I, mounted in the socket, projects through an opening in the spring to retain the mounting against endwise removal from the socket.

The free end of the bracket 34 has a downbentvertical arm 31. The roller 3| is journalled on a hub assembly 38 which in turn is secured to a carriage 39. The carriage 39 is slidably mounted on the arm 37, being C-shaped in cross section so as to embrace the arm.

Changingof the position of the roller relative to the bracket will result in a corresponding change in the normal riding position of the floor tool relative to the floor. From any of the several normal riding positions thus determined, the floor tool may be depressed against the tension of the spring 35.

Furthermore, the range of possible depression below normal riding position is not varied by a change in adjustment in this form of the invention, an element of advantage which distinguishes the present invention from those which are covered in my Patents Numbers 1,899,107, 1,899,108, and 1,899,423, issued February 28, 1933. The present application is a continuation in part of the applications for those patents. Y 40 Another advantage of the present invention, by which it is distinguished, is the fact that the roller may be removed from arm 31 by releasing the latch 40. Since the roller is of soft rubber, and subject to wear, the ability to replace the roller without replacing the mounting 32, is

advantageous.

The latch 40 and cooperating notches 4| con stitute both an adjusting means, carrying the weight of the cleaner from carriage and means to secure the roller to the bracket.

Fig. 5 illustrates another form of the invention in which the roller 31 may be adjusted relative to the bracket 34a. 55

thebracket to the I 5|, cooperating with a In thisform, the floor tool 30 has the same socket 36, andthe bracket 34a is secured at one end tothe leaf spring 35, which is retained by the screw 3'. g

The roller 3| is mounted on an arm 31a which is formed with a portion 34b bent to align with the bracket 34a. The arm 31a and portion 34b constitute a carriage which is movably mounted on the bracket 3441 by means of a hinge 42. An adjusting element 43, on the member 3412, engages a coacting element 44 on the bracket 34a, the latter being preferably in the form of I a tongue formed on the bracket 34a and projecting beyond the hinge 42. The adjusting element may be a screw, threaded through a sleeve 45 secured to the member 34b. The coacting elements 43 and 44 carry the weight of the cleaner from the bracket 34a to the roller carriage 34b, 31a.

If the member 34b is considered as part of the bracket, then the adjustment is accomplished by varying the angular relation of .the hinged members of the bracket, by adjusting means spanning the hinge. This form of the invention also possesses the advantage that the change in adjustment does not vary the range of possible depression below normal riding position. The

clearance between the hinge 42 and the spring 35 is unaifected by a change in adjustment.

Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive illustrate forms of the invention wherein adjustment is made by changing the spreading force acting between the spring and the bracket by means interposed between the spring and the bracket, i. e., carried solely by the mounting. In Figs. 7, 8, 9, the bracket 340 is secured at one end to the spring 35 and has at its other end the depending arm 31 on whichis journalled the roller 3|. The floor tool 30 has the socket 36 in which the mounting is retained by the screw 31H In a bearing 46, on the bracket 340, is journalled the adjusting element 41, which has the cam face 48 engaging the underside of the spring 35 intermediate its ends. A pin 49 may be employed, bearing against the bearing 46 to prevent axial retraction of the element. A lever arm or sector 50 is employed to rotate the element 41, which will result in pushing up the spring 35 and increasing its tension against the upper wall of the socket 36. Variation in the tension of the spring in this manner will correspondingly vary the normal riding position, an increase in tension lifting the floor tool to a higher posi tion before the balance in weight and tension isreached.

The sector 50 embodies a series of depressions pointer-latch finger 52 of spring material, which is secured to the arm 31 as shown. This is to hold the adjusting element 4'! in any of its positions of adjustment.

' The adjusting element may be carried entirely by the spring as shown in Fig. 14. By disposing the axis of the adjusting element at an angle to the face of the spring 35a, where engagement is made, the adjusting element may exert its pressure in an axial direction, i. e., may be in the form of a screw 53, threaded through a sleeve 54 secured to the spring; The result of axial pressure at an angle to the spring will be a flexing .of the spring between the region of attachment to the sleeve -54 and the point of contact of the screw.

This will increase the tension of the spring against the upper wall of the socket 36, the line of contact against the wall being disposed outwardly beyond the area of flexure by the screw.

The head of the securing element 55 which attaches the sleeve 54 to the spring, may be formed as a projecting lug to enter a recess 56 in the upper wall of the socket 36, to secure the mounting against removal, thus doing away with the screw 3'.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 13 the adjusting element is again carried solely by the spring 35, being in I the form of a screw 51 or 51a threaded through a collar 58 secured to the spring near the juncture of the bracket 34 and spring 35, with its axis substantially normal to the bracket and spring. The screw extends through an opening in the upper wall of the socket 36, of sufiicient breadth to allow considerable movement of the screw.

The screw exerts its pressure against the bracket 34, forcing bracket and spring apart, and

thus increasing tension of the spring against the upper wall of the socket 36 as before noted.

In Figs. 10, 11, the spring 35 is secured to the bracket 34 as before note-d, while in Fig. 13,the ends of the bracket 34 and spring 35 rest in contact between the confining surfaces 59 ofthe socket 36a, the spring 35 is held against longitudinal removal by the'screw 'spring 35b.

The forms of the invention shown in Figs.

7-44 inclusive, have the advantage that the adjustment is carried solely by the mounting, whereby, if desired' a three point adjustment mounting may be substituted for by a four point adjustment mounting, or, more important yet, a floor tool with no adjustment may be converted into one withadjustable mountings, with no change in the floor tool itself.

I claim as my invention:

'1. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting attached to the floor tool, said mounting including a projecting movable part on which said roller is journalled and a resilient portion which resiliently transfers the weight of the'cleaner to the roller, and adjusting means carried solely by the mounting for varying the tension in said resilient portion, whereby to vary the normal riding position of the floor tool determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said resilient portion when flexed under said weight, and whereby said floor tooLmay be manually depressed below any of said normal riding positions, against the tension of said resilient portion.

2. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, a spring interposed between the bracket and the floor tool and engaging the floor tool, and an adjusting element adjustably engaged between the spring and the bracket to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element.

3. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, amounting attached to the floor tool said mounting including a projecting movable portion on which said roller is journalled, and a resilient portion resiliently carrying the weight of the cleaner from the floor tool to the wheel, and adjusting means carried solely by said resilient portion for varying the tension in said resilient portion, whereby to vary the normal riding position of the floor tool determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said resilient portion when flexed under said weight, and whereby said floor tool may be manually depressed below any of said normal riding positions, against the tension of said resilient portion.

4. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting attached to the floor tool, said mounting including a projecting movable portion on which said roller is journalled, and a resilient portion resiliently carrying the weight I of the cleaner from the floor tool to the roller,

and adjusting means mounted on one region oi! said resilient portion and having a movable portion engaging another region thereof for varying the tension in said resilient portion, whereby to vary the normal riding position of the floor tool determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said resilient portion when flexed under said weight, and whereby said floor tool may be manually depressed below any of said normal riding positions, I

against the tension of said resilient portion.

5. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting attached to the floor tool said mounting including a projecting movable portion on which said roller is journalled, and a resilient portion resiliently carrying the weight of the cleaner from the floor tool to the wheel, and adjusting means comprising an adjusting screw threadably mounted on one region of said resilient portion and bearing at its end against another region thereof, the axis of said screw being inclined to said other region for varying the tension in said resilient portion, whereby to vary the normal riding position of the floor tool determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension insaid resilient portion when flexed under said weight, and whereby said floor tool may be manually depressed below any of said'normal riding positions, against the tension of said resilient portion.

6..In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, and an opposite end region fulcrumed against the floor'tool, a, leaf spring one end of which is secured in engagement with said fulcrumed end of the bracket and an opposite endregion of which engages the floor tool, and an adjusting element engaged between the spring and the bracket near said fulcrumed end, to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool maybe manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and 'the position of adjustment of said adjusting element.

7. In a suction cleaner, a floortool, a supporting ro1ler,-a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, and an opposite end region rulcrumed against the floor tool, a leaf spring one end of which is secured in engagement with said fulcrumed end or the bracket and an opposite end region of which engages the floor tool, and an adjusting element engaged between the spring and the bracket between said fulcrumed end and the region .where the spring engages the floor tool, to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element.

8. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, a spring interposed between the bracket and the floor tool and engaging the floor tool, and an adjusting element carried by the bracket and engaging the spring to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series oi normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element.

9. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, a spring interposed between the bracket and the floor tool and engaging the floor tool, and an adjusting screw threaded through the bracket and engaging the spring to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element.

10. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool formed with a vertical slideway, the top of which is closed,. a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket vertically slidable in said slideway, a spring interposed between the top of the bracket and the top of the slideway, and an adjusting element carried by the bracket and engaging the lower end of said spring to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element.

11.In a suction cleaner, a floor tool; a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, and an opposite end region fulcrumed against the floor tool, a leaf spring one end of which is secured in engagement with said fulcrumed end of the bracket and an opposite end region of which engages the floor tool, and an adjusting element comprising an elongated member rotatably mounted on the bracket between the bracket and the spring and having an end formed with a cam engaged between the spring and the bracket to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element, and cooperating indi-, cating devices carried by the outer end of said elongated rotatable member and the bracket respectively, for indicating the position of'adjustment.

12. In 'a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled,. and an opposite end region, fulcrumed against the floor tool, a leaf spring one end of which is secured in engagement with said fulcrumed end of the bracket and an opposite end region er which engages the floor tool, and an adjusting element comprising an elongated member rotatably mounted on the bracket between the bracket and the spring and having an end formed with a cam engaged between the spring and the bracket to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any oneof a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element, and cooperating elements carried by the outer end-of said elongated member and the bracket respectively, for arresting said elongated member in any of several positions of adjustment.

13. In a suctioncleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including abracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, and an opposite end region fulprumed against the floor tool, a leaf spring one end of which is secured in engagement with said fulcrumed end of the bracket and an opposite end region of which engages the floor tool, and an adjusting element comprising an elongated member rotatably mounted on the bracket between the bracket and the spring and having an end formed with a 'cam engaged between the spring and the bracket to carry the weight of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the flooi' tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said spring when flexed under said weight,'and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element, and cooper ating indicating devices carried by the outer end of said elongated rotatable member and the bracket respectively, for arresting said elongated member in any'of several positions of adjustment and for indicating the position of adjustment.

14. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a supporting roller, a mounting connecting the roller to the floor tool, said mounting including a bracket having a projecting portion on which the roller is journalled, and an opposite end region fulcrumed against the floor tool, a leaf spring one end of which is secured in engagement with said fulcrumed end of the bracket and an opposite end region of which engages the floor tool, and

an adjusting element comprising an elongated member rotatably mounted on the bracket between the bracket and the spring and having an end formed with a cam engaged between the spring and the bracket to carry the weight. of the cleaner from the spring to the bracket, whereby the floor tool may be manually depressed below any one of a series of normal riding positions determined by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the .tension in said spring when flexed under said weight, and the position of adjustment of said adjusting element.

15. In a suction cleaner, a floor tool, a pair of supporting rollers, mountings connecting the respective rollers to the respective ends of the floor tool, each of said mountings includingresilient means for resiliently transferring the weight of the cleaner to the rollers, whereby a normal riding position of the floor tool is determined'by the balance between the weight of the cleaner and the tension in said resilient means when flexed under said weight, and adjusting means carried 

